Homer, Louise

Famous American contralto singer, at present a member of the Metropolitan Opera Company of New York. Well known in this country and in Europe for her interpretations of the leading contralto roles in opera. Her maiden name was Beatty and she was born m Pittsburg, Pa., the daughter of a Presbyterian minister of that city. She studied singing for several years in Philadelphia and Boston, and m 1896 went to Paris to continue her studies. After two years of hard work under the best teachers, she made her debut at Vichy in La Favorita. Her English debut took place in 1899 at Covent Garden, London, and the same year she sang at the Theatre de la Monnaie in Brussels, making a most favorable impression. Returning to London, she was engaged to sing at the first state concert at Buckingham Palace before Queen Victoria, and since then her rise has been rapid. Miss Beatty was married in 1896 to Sidney Homer, the well-known songwriter, and is the mother of several children. Her best known roles are Amneris, in Aida; Michaela, in  Carmen; Lola, in Cavalleria Rusticana; and Laura, in Ponchielli's opera, La Gioconda, the last being her favorite. Mme. Homer's voice is a contralto of wonderful quality and large volume.